Create serious photography with the Canon EOS M5 mirrorless camera

Canon brings DSLR-like design and sensor technology to its new compact system camera…

If you want to get serious about photography, compact system cameras are an increasingly viable alternative to DSLR models.

They’re often called mirrorless because they lack the mirror and prism used by DSLRs to take a photograph. This mirrorless design means compact system cameras can be smaller and lighter than traditional DSLRs while still offering excellent picture quality.

Now Canon, one of the most innovative camera companies, has launched a new model, hailed as its ‘best mirrorless camera yet’.

It’s called the Canon EOS M5…

Capture more detail with DSLR-like sensor tech

Sensor size is crucial when it comes to taking better photos. The bigger the sensor, the more light gets in and more light means more detail is captured. Compact system cameras offer increasingly large sensors, and the Canon M5 continues that trend.

The sensor is an APS-C CMOS, with 24.2 megapixels. Because of the large size of this sensor, these megapixels are much bigger than those you’d find on a compact camera that also had around 20 megapixels. It’s the size, rather than the number, of megapixels that’s most important.

Enjoy far greater focus with Dual Pixel CMOS AF

When you’re shooting stills or video of a moving subject you can enjoy sharper, more accurate focus with Dual Pixel AF technology in the EOS M5. The Dual Pixel AF is technology previously only seen in Canon’s EOS D DSLR cameras – it’s a significant improvement on the M5’s predecessor, the M3.

But what does it do?

When shooting with digital cameras, most people use the large LCD screen on the back as their viewfinder. With Dual Pixel you can focus across 80% of the width and height of the LCD screen. This gives you a much greater focal range when photographing people who are in motion, or posing off-centre. The LCD screen is touch-friendly, so manual focusing is simple should you need to.

Capture fast-moving scenes with continuous shooting

Another area where the EOS M5 improves on its M3 predecessor is continuous shooting. The M3 was able to shoot 4.2fps (frames per second) whereas the M5 can fire off 7fps – perfect for capturing the perfect shot of fast-moving action like athletics or a bird on flight.

It looks and feels like a DSLR (but smaller)

Looking for a camera with a professional feel? Canon has given the E0S M5 all the hallmarks of a premium DSLR but made it smaller. It has a built-in electronic viewfinder – its first mirrorless to have one – so you can enjoy a shooting experience similar to that of Canon’s EOS DSLRs.

When it comes to handling, the camera has a proper DSLR-like grip – perfect for holding steady as you frame your shot.

When shooting handheld, camera shake can be an issue, since there is often a slight movement causing blur when you press the shutter. The camera has image stabilisation technology built-in to try to counteract this movement.

Camera experts who’ve tried out the E0S M5 says it’s nice to use and has uncomplicated controls. There’s also the option of interchangeable lenses to help you create different effects. The M5 comes packaged with the 15-45mm zoom lens to start with – but there are over 80 other EF-M lenses to choose from.

It shoots great video

Any camera worth its salt these days has to also shoot video, and the Canon M5 continues this trend with Full HD recording at 60 frames per second.

When you’re shooting video of moving people, animal or objects you can enjoy more accurate tracking and autofocus. When your subject moves towards you or across your frame, the camera adjusts and refocuses with the Dual Pixel technology.